Moms everywhere are planning their family vacations for the year. Destination Toledo and Ohio State Parks are here to help mom out by providing a slew of great ideas for a family getaway to Northwest Ohio!
DAY ONE
First stop on our Playtime tour is an art museum? (Toledo Museum of Art, KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 219, FREE admission)
Probably my favorite space is the Glass Pavilion. The Glass Pavilion is—in itself—a work of art. All exterior and nearly all interior walls consist of large panels of curved glass, resulting in a transparent structure that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. You are greeted by a clear glass “fish-looking” Chihuly sculpture and then drawn in further by the live glass-blowing artists at work.
Toledo’s newest attraction, the National Museum of the Great Lakes (KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 216), reveals the haunting and fascinating history of our treasured Great Lakes that happen to make up 84 percent of the fresh surface water in North America. The main emphasis is on the new museum at the Toledo Maritime Center with a complete experience for visitors of all ages to include: original artifacts (some from horrific shipwrecks like the Edmund Fitzgerald); over 40 hands-on exhibits (for example: direct your own submersible through the wreckage of a lost freighter or keep your own ship afloat by operating a real bilge pump); the real life-size S.S. Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship sits outside the museum for touring; and for waterside wonderers – A beautifully landscaped 3.5 acre maritime-themed park.
Ever felt the whipping winds of a hurricane? Step inside the hurricane chamber at the brand new Imagination Station(KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 215) and your answer can be ‘Yes’. This brand new attraction promises to engage visitors of every age in a multi-sensory experience that’s as fun as it is educational. Defy gravity as you ride the High Wire Cycle, or bounce on the BOYO, a human YoYo. We especially liked the science experiments where it was “old-school” science museum – kids and parents helped make the tests work! I even beat my athlete son at the Pendulum Pull. Brains over Brawn…
Batter up! Family fun is waiting for you as the Toledo Mud Hens (KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 217) play ball at Fifth Third Field! Grab some popcorn, cotton candy and a cold drink and settle in to this unique ballpark situated in the historic downtown landscape of the Warehouse District. We love and support AAA ball…it’s so fan friendly for the price. Not only do you get to see MLB up n comers but it’s likely you’ll see major league stars playing off the dust during rehab. We liked the way this park was setup too. Any seat ticket holder can enter the Club Level Lounge to cool off, catch some stats from other games being played, or grab some upscale food that’s fairly priced.
With temperatures climbing, it is time to start enjoying summer vacations. Hospitality expert Sandy Chen, an associate professor in the Restaurant, Hotel, and Tourism Program at Ohio University’s Patton College of Education, offers five travel tips on saving money while staying comfortable during summer travels.
TRAVEL TIP 1. Book accommodation with economy hotel chains. “By doing so, you not only get more value out of the money you pay for the room since these hotels normally offer free breakfast, WIFI, swimming pools and gym facilities, but you also accumulate loyalty points with these hotel chains, which you can use in the future for free or discounted rooms,” said Chen. “If you use a credit card that rewards ‘cash back upon purchases,’ you could save more for future use.”
TRAVEL TIP 2. Book accommodation one or two days before you check into a hotel. Chen explained, “Unlike the airline industry where you can receive low airfare if you book way ahead of time, the hotel industry plays the other way around. Studies on revenue management show that customers normally can get good deals with hotel room rates if they wait until the last minute. But make sure you do reserve a hotel room via phone or website before checking into the hotel. Normally the walk-in rates (without reservation) are the highest rates you could get. However, in the peak season, this might be somewhat risky since sometimes all your favorite hotel rooms could be sold out due to special events. This might mean you would not get the right hotel room in the right location.”
TRAVEL TIP 3. Check three major reservation outlets to compare rates and special offers. “Sometimes, travel reservations sites, including the hotel’s website, the hotel’s reservation staff at its physical location, and an online booking website like Expedia.com, offer different rates. When they do offer same rates, they might have different bonus offers, such as government rates, veteran discounts, and loyalty rewards,” advised Chen.
TRAVEL TIP 4. Book accommodation in suburban areas instead of urban areas. “Booking hotel accommodations in the suburbs, instead of urban areas, could mean saving several hundred dollars on one trip,” said Chen. “For instance, a hotel room in downtown Washington D. C. is much more expensive than one in the suburb Rockville, Maryland, which is only 35 minutes away by car to the capital city and may offer free shuttle service to and from the city and nearby areas.”
TRAVEL TIP 5. Consult customer reviews on hotels if you are interested in booking. “Websites, such as TripAdvisor and Expedia, have customer ratings of hotel facilities and service quality. Many of them give detailed descriptions of hotel experiences, which can help you decide the right hotel in which to stay,” said Chen.
About the expert: Sandy Chen, an associate professor in the Restaurant, Hotel, and Tourism Program at Ohio University’s Patton College of Education, gained hospitality experience at a five star hotel in Beijing, China and at Walt Disney World in Orlando before deciding to continue her education. See her full biography here: https://www.ohio.edu/ucm/media/experts/ohioexpert.cfm?formid=1822088&pageid=2802315
Some of the best things do in the Philadelphia region are free, or close to it. The city’s many low-cost or no-cost attractions include historic Independence Hall, student recitals at the esteemed Curtis Institute of Music, monthly Sunday mornings at the Barnes Foundation and a $5 dinner-and-a-show series at FringeArts. Here’s a list of great Philly experiences for visitors on a budget. https://www.visitphilly.com/media-center/press-releases/affordable-free-attractions-in-philly/
America’s oldest—and possibly most charming—continuously inhabited street, is perfect for tiptoeing along the cobblestones and exploring its quaint museum. Weekend tours of Elfreth’s Alley (above) are available Friday through Sunday. Credit: photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
Learn how to write your first book using the same steps a best-selling author did!
INTRO
Each year, dozens of folks I meet on tour share their desire to someday write and publish a journal, storybook or non-fiction book. No surprise as, statistically, 80% of people say they “have a book inside them.” The wanna-be authors are all ages – from middle elementary students to grandparents.
As the co-author of 16 books, people constantly ask me how I got started. More importantly, a lot of people out there wonder exactly how to write a book.
Their faces reveal the secret – what I call “THE ZONE.” Their passion for the subject of their book is THE ZONE. They care about the subject matter deeply. They are passionate about their topic and, my guess is, it will show in their writing.
BUT THE TRICK IS – How does an author get started? Don’t worry, this workbook will take you on Baby Steps to first build a chapter, then repeat the process with another chapter and, before you know it, you’ve got a book!
WRITING TO A PROMPT
Sometimes you can choose what you write about. Sometimes someone else picks the subject. I think you can actually do both when you are in the Zone. The Zone= your favorite things, people, places – the ones you’re really passionate about!
The exercises you will do to complete your first book are a series of prompts. They are formatted alongside the same types of prompts used in most State Writing Assessments in schools beginning in upper elementary school and continuing through ACT/SAT tests. Once you complete this workbook, you not only have your first “self-published” work but also great practice for tests you will have to take to be eligible for higher education!
Honestly, most writing is just expressing one focused thought – with a series of smaller supporting thoughts and a conclusion. Some writing can just be a series of individual paragraphs bunched under one topic (example: each KIDS LOVE TRAVEL chapter includes a series of maybe 50 individual reviews of places to visit located in ONE area region).
IDEA FACTORY
Ever hear of “writer’s block?” We all get it. Here’s what I’ve learned on how to “break the block” – tools I use with my kids, in workshops and with my own writing:
Search Google for topics you are interested in…all the time. Save articles or blog posts you think might work to stimulate your thoughts in your computer’s “FAVORITES” box for reference later. Or, if you’re a highlighter freak like me, print that great article and highlight the best points. Keep a Writer’s File folder of printed materials you’ve found along the way.
Subscribe to RSS Feeds of web blogs you find interesting. Browse around there for a little while and see what inspires you.
Browse magazines you subscribe to. They identify your interests and that’s probably what you’re going to write about. Tear out the pages that have good content, underline those facts, and then store in your Writers File folder.
Stop and think about the last fun activity you did.
Stop and think about the last person you talked to – meaningfully.
What is a question people often ask you? For example, “How do you make…?” or “Why don’t you get nervous when you…?”
Visuals. This is my favorite technique for getting over writer’s block! Go through scrapbooks or saved picture files. Maybe dig through knick-knacks and souvenirs. Most everyone has a story behind every award or trophy or funny thing on display in your bedroom. Bedroom walls are an Inspiration Zone, for sure!
MOVEMENT (or, actually getting words on paper)
Did you know the battle is half over? If you think writing is hard, it is. When you think writing is telling people about your favorite ideas, it becomes easy. You’ve already come up with ideas AND the topic is in your ZONE. That’s the power source. Now, tap that fountain in your head and just start jotting things down. We’ll have lots of time to revise and organize later. Better to start with a lot and then whittle out the fluff later.
EDITING
Write shorter sentences. Write shorter paragraphs. If necessary, change long sentences to two sentences or one connected with semicolons. You make your point quicker and prevent readers from losing interest or, worse yet, falling asleep!
Reduce redundancy and trim unnecessary words. Don’t overuse words like: “like”, pretty, really, fun, cool, and very. Use your Thesaurus to find new words that better express your thoughts!
Use description and details vs. ramblings about nothing. Your first book is meant to teach or inspire the reader. Add those marvelous personal triumphs or failures to your writing. Pepper it with adjectives that replace “wordiness.”
Use short words instead of long words. This project book is not formal writing. Using words such as utilize (vs. use) or presently (vs. now), for example, making the writing too serious and lose the personality of your writing.
Typos really mess with today’s reader’s trust in your work. Use a spell-check program but then have someone read your work for correctly spelled words, just used incorrectly (ex. There vs. their).
FINAL THOUGHTS
Value the ideas more than the format, the sharing more than the editing. As you move through these exercises, the writing car will have enough fuel and move easier – you just might enjoy the ride!
PUBLISHING
Now that you’ve finished the “guts” of your mini-book…it’s on to publishing your work. First, you’ll want to form:
A copyright page using that lovely little insignia. Anyone can copyright their work by using this icon as identification.
A table of contents
A biography page
Design a front and back cover (full color – your best quality pictures or graphics go on the cover)
Add pictures to the essay writings (if you haven’t already)
Once you have those materials, you can publish your first book. First, convert your Word files to Adobe PDF files. Now, publish your book (to be seen by the public) using one of three formats:
Print the entire work plus the cover. Staple your printed copy together in order. Or, paste your pages into a scrapbook of your choice. Decorate the pages, if you like. Share a copy with friends and family or give it away as a gift.
Start your own free Web blog page (using wordpress.org) and paste your work into individual blog posts over time. You may have to copy/paste the Word files vs. the PDF files, depending on what format is acceptable to your blog format. Keep a separate My Pictures file (with any pictures, diagrams, etc. you’ve created for your book). Use that file to browse from when you click “Add Photos” to your blog posts.
Publish the PDF files as an e-book or print book on KDP.com. Amazon’s Kindle Publishing platforms offer templates and tutorials.
Obviously, here at KIDS LOVE PUBLICATIONS we actually publish our guidebooks and workbooks to print. I don’t recommend it for beginners. Print books take a big chunk of effort. Coming up with an idea for an entire book obviously requires more thought and considerably more research. Wait until you have a series of mini-books under your belt. Then, you just might have the chapters of a real book!
Here are some tips to help you put together a trip that they will all enjoy…on a tight budget:
Simplify your lodgings. Either join a rewards club or, if you can, plan to visit areas of the country where you can stay with friends or relatives. Another option- vacation homes and campgrounds – using a grill or fully equipped kitchen and washer/dryer facility yourself saves money. Of course, the best way to save on hotels is to not use them. Plan day trips to sights and attractions within driving distance instead.
Attractions. Buying tickets in advance online can save not only money, but time as well. Go in a group for shows and fee-paid attractions at a group discount. Get more value from historical places by: re-enactments, history mysteries, state history workbooks.
Babysitting. When planning a road trip with young children, ask grandparents or another close relative to come along to watch the kids. This allows you and your spouse some time alone without paying for resort babysitting services.
Discount or Membership Card. Buy a discount attractions pass for large cities like Chicago, Orlando, New York – especially if you know you’re going to visit four or more sites around town. You can also save up to $500.00 with free discount cards provided by local CVBs. Some supermarket chains offer great discount tickets to major attractions in the area by just signing up for their Customer Card. If you already have family memberships to your local Children’s Museum, Science Center, Zoo or Aquarium, find out which places offer Free or Discounted Reciprocal Admission.
Economize on meals. Plan to splurge on one meal, but make the other meals less expensive. Staying at a hotel with a complimentary continental breakfast is our favorite option. Pay attention to three magic words, “Kids Eat Free,” especially at hotel and chain restaurants. Look for Extra Value Meals or Early Bird specials, too. Often, historic taverns offer better value deals for lunch vs. dinner menus so maybe consider making lunch your main meal of the day.
Freebies. (Yes, they still exist!) Keep the little ones entertained without opening the wallet at upscale mall stores like a Lego Store or Discovery Stores. Many upscale hotels now have live, caged animals in their lobby such as exotic birds. Once or twice a day the management offers public programs with a naturalist or you can chance upon a feeding time. Another freebie – free admission special events or festivals. Best of all, though, are the attractions that are still FREE admission. One-quarter to one-third of all Kids Love Travel series guidebooks offer reviews on attractions that never, or hardly ever, charge to get in!
Getting Around. Dad did all that driving to get there, now he just wants to get out of the van and take a nap, but the family is ready to see the sites. Most every tourist town has a trolley service and most every trolley has on/off privileges. To save even more money, opt out of actually visiting the historic museums (probably boring for kids anyway) and just absorb the views and snipits from the trolley guide. Walking is free, too. Some historic towns are very walkable (ex. Alexandria, St. Augustine, Fredericksburg, DC, Lexington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, etc.)
Giving In. Moms say “yes” to kids more often and to more requests on vacation. So, give in moms, but cheaply. The number one request of kids on vacation: Staying up late and Sleeping in – so let them, no cost here. Next on kids’ list was treats. Most “treats” like ice cream cones are little cost compared to sit-down meals so splurge on that cone or candy but save on dinner because the kids won’t be that hungry!
Go off season. Not only will the crowds be reduced, but hotels offer deep discounts and gift shops run clearance sales during off-peak times of year.
Pack to Save. A last minute purchase or rental of certain items out of necessity can add up quickly. If you have the room, bring your own stroller or bicycles. If you like to theme park or bike/hike, we have suggestions at our workshops and in the KIDS LOVE FLORIDA BOOK about what to pack in your backpack.
Kids grow up fast. Enjoy time with them (inexpensively) while they’re young. Remember, this year may offer the best travel deals ever! 2020 – Michele Zavatsky
Want more ideas about how to plan your next family trip – and, maybe learn some tricks on how to get the most value? Michele Z, the Family Travel Mom, has been to 5,000 places and shares her journals in her KIDS LOVE TRAVEL GUIDEBOOKS – Family Travel Guides.
No Shower? No Toilet Paper? No Problem! – Goodwipes.
Need to freshen up while on a layover?
At a Festival? Port-a-Johns only option? Concerned about TP running out? Or, want better than sandpaper toilet paper?
When would you use these Body Wipes? Traveling . Outdoors . Post-Gym . Hiking . Running . Crossfit . Camping . Music Festivals. Forehead Swiping . Obstacle Courses + Mud Runs .
Cleansing wipes come in handy when… You’re Traveling. Outdoors . After Exercise . Camping . Hiking . Surfing . Skiing . Commutes . Port-a-Potties . Festivals . Restaurants .
Goodwipes are made from eco-friendly ingredients like tea tree oil, chamomile, lavender and peppermint. The cleansing wipes have similar ingredients plus a light fragrance…different for each gender. Lavendar for ladies. Musky for men.
Freshen up your neck, back, face, underarms, and body with goodwipes Body Wipes. Toss them in your carry-on bag to remove dirt, sweat, oils, bacteria and body odors that naturally build up during the day. www.goodwipes.com
It’s November and time to start thinking about turkeys and the spaces they live freely
So you thought there was nothing to know about turkeys except whether you liked drumsticks or white meat. Think again.
Wild turkeys strut and display at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, PA. Photo: Copyright Bill Buchanan. Used with permission.
Enough with gobble, gobble. Turkeys also cluck and purr .
Turkey droppings tell a bird’s sex and age. Male droppings are j-shaped; female droppings are spiral-shaped. The larger the diameter, the older the bird.
Feather-hanger: An adult turkey has 5,000 to 6,000 feathers – count them! – on its body.
Tom turkeys aren’t the only ones that swagger and fan their tail feathers to woo mates and ward off rivals. Some hens strut, too.
Crunchy treats. Young turkeys – poults – scarf down insects like candy. They develop more of a taste for plants after they’re four weeks old.
They may look off-kilter – tilting their heads and staring at the sky –yet but they’re fast. Turkeys can clock more than 12 miles per hour.
Move over, American bald eagle. Ben Franklin called the wild turkey a “bird of courage” and thought it would make a better national symbol.
Wild turkeys are not hard to find. National wildlife refuges are great places to look —while you enjoy a stroll in nature and emerge looking less like a butterball yourself. Here are some favorite turkey hideouts:
FLORIDA St Marks National Wildlife Refuge (KIDS LOVE FLORIDA, pg 97) To boost your chances of seeing turkeys, get out of your car and walk. “Turkeys are sensitive to the movement of vehicles,” says Ranger David Moody. Wearing camo colors might help, too. The refuge permits bow hunting the first two weeks in November. Then it closes to hunting until December 13. Almost 50 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail go through the refuge. Turkeys like the open terrain of the longleaf pine sandhill ecosystem along the trail. $5 entrance fee.
GEORGIA Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge Look for turkeys along 50 miles of gravel road, including five-mile-long Wildlife Drive. You might also see them off Round Oak Juliette Road, a scenic (and paved) byway. Or try one of the refuge’s five hiking trails. No entrance fee. (Note: the refuge is closed for a deer hunt Saturday, Nov. 22.)
ILLINOIS Wild Turkey Trail — Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (KIDS LOVE ILLINOIS, pg 171) Easy to moderate 1.7- mile trail leads through woods and offers a fine chance of seeing wild turkeys. For more of a challenge, take the connecting 2.2-mile Rocky Bluff Trail. Entrance fee: $2 per vehicle.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge The 9-mile Wildlife Drive passes many woods and fields where you might spot turkeys, especially in mornings and late afternoons. Or lose the wheels and walk any of seven hiking trails along the drive. No entrance fee.
In 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the unknown land of the Louisiana Purchase. They gathered a crew of adventurous and able men to form the Corps of Discovery. “Unknown Horizons” tells their story.
“By giving personalities to the members of the Corps, we are able to give greater depth to this thrilling adventure and allow readers to experience what life would have been like as an adventurer in 1803,” author Ruth Peck said.
My Take: Most chapters you feel as if you were there…feeling threatened by the Sioux, exhausted by the elements, starving or eating lots of fresh meat. You may even find yourself bored when the men had their long stay at Fort Clatsop or elated when they found fresh Spring grass and signs of civilization on their return trip. I liked how they weaved the Sacagawea story for most of the journey. A Good Read if you like historical exploration stories.
Don’t find yourself drained this Memorial Day Weekend. Most people like to think of Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial kickoff to summer. The three-day weekend is the perfect opportunity to get away, even if it’s just a day trip to a nearby city. While traveling we all rely on our smartphones for directions, looking up destination spots or places to eat and for capturing memories in the form of pictures and videos. One travel necessity to never leave home without is a quality portable charger so you can stay in control of your trip!
We tried the HubMini. Here’s some stats; 22 extra hours of power / Integrated Apple® Lightning™ cable / Integrated micro-USB cable
TECHNOLOGY
Smart-sense: ensures complete device compatibility Hyper-charge: ultra-fast charging of your devices; up to 65% faster than competitors Power-stay: maintains battery power for up to 1 year Max-power: maximum power transfer from powerbank to device High-density battery: the smallest and lightest powerbank Safe-cell: provides the highest level of battery safety Rapid-recharge: powerbank recharges up to 50% faster than competitors Pass Through Charging: will charge the powerbank and connected device simultaneously
Our Take: The HubMini charges fast. How many times have my kids and I been at a ballgame, an outdoor festival, or a restaurant and our cell phone battery is nearly dead. Restaurants don’t have outlets at every table and outdoor activities never do. Plus, who wants to lug a heavy charger cord everywhere. This is light and compact. Best of all: my Android phone and a friend’s IPhone can CHARGE AT THE SAME TIME! This is a new standard item for my purse and beach tote!
myCharge makes a variety of portable chargers that will fit anyone’s needs from the Hub Series chargers, that include convenient built-in charging cables and wall prongs on the back of the unit to charge it, to the Razor series that offers ample extra battery life and a sleek look. https://mycharge.com/
Gosh I love Saturday mornings on FB! Discovered 3 travel tips I forgot about: 1. use dryer sheets as air fresheners and spill picker uppers 2. freeze juice boxes before road trip – they double as mini ice packs and a slushie drink! 3. use old fitted twin sheets as van seat protectors.
cities like Chicago, Orlando, New York – especially if you know you’re going to visit four or more sites around town. You can also save up to $500.00 with free discount cards provided by local CVBs. Some supermarket chains offer great discount tickets to major attractions in the area by just signing up for their Customer Card. If you already have family memberships to your local Children’s Museum, Science Center, Zoo or Aquarium, find out which places offer Free or Discounted Reciprocal Admission.
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